Agricultural implement



Feb. 16, 1943. R. D. MacDoNALD l-:VTAL

I AGRICULTURAL IMPLAMENT l Filed July 5o, 1941r 5 sheets-sheet 1 5% g3.mx 1:1v f C@ O o N N ql $2 N "1 Q; 4 N

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R. D. MacDoNALD ETAL AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Filed July 50, 1941 3Sheets-Shea?l 2 Feb. 16, 1943.` R. D. MacDoNALD ETAL 2,311,117

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Patented Feb. 16, 1943 AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTBaymore D. MacDonald, Battle Creek, Mich., and

vSamuel E. Hllblom, Chicago, Ill.,

assignors to International Harvester Company, a corporation o! NewJersey Asppiimnm July 3o, 19411, semi No. 404.648

24 claims. (ci. :s6-z5) Thisinvention relates to an agriculturalimplement and more particularly to an implement oi' the vehicleortractor-mounted type. Speciilcally, the invention pertains to atractormounted mower. Y

In its broader aspects the invention provides for improvements in meansfor mounting agricultural implements on vehicles such as tractors or thelike. v

In-its more specific aspects the invention is concerned withimprovements in tractor-mounted mowers of the so called highway type. Ina mower oi' this type a tractor, comprising generally a longitudinalbody or frame, is carried on front and rear wheels and is provided at anintermediate portion of its body or frame with a supporting structure.Mower cutting mechanism is carried on this supporting structureintermediate the front and rear wheels, and the cutterbar extendslaterally from the tractor and supporting structure. A mower of thistype differs in many important details Ifrom mowers of the that are notpresent in mowers of other types.

However, the reference to a highway 'type mower is to be taken asindicative ot a preferred embodiment of the invention and is notto beunderstood as in any manner limiting the invention in its broaderaspects.

Ihe principal object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmounting means -i'or vthe mounting of an agricultural 4implement. on awheeled frame, and particularly on a vehicle of the agricultural tractortype.

. An important object is the provision of means for mounting a moweron atractor. v

Another important object is the provision of Still another object of theinvention is to provide an improved adjustable means i'or mounting thecutting mechanism on the supporting structure.

And still another object is to provide an im-v proved connection betweenthe supporting structure and the cutting mechanism comprising meansconnecting thel supporting structure and mower shoe for adjustment aboutan axis laterally of the mower.

Brieiy, and speciiically,l these and other desirable objects areachieved in a preferred formof the invention by the provision of a mowerstructure which is adapted to be mounted or carried by a frame tractor.The tractor includes a generally longitudinally extending body or frameintermediate the front and rear wheels of which is carried a mowerstructure including a groundengaging runner and a laterally extendingcutter-bar. 'Ihe ground-engaging member-is carried by a supportinghousing containing drive gearing by which the cutting mechanism'v isoperated. The supporting housing is mounted on the tractor through themedium of two angularly related frame members connected to the tractorby means of ball and socket joints. One of the frame members is hollowor tubular and carries a drive shaft lby which the power take-olf shaftis connectedto the cutting mechanism driving means contained in thesupporting housing. 'Ihe mower structure is mounted for rearwardswinging movement about a vertical axis provided by the supportinghousing. An improved releasable means including ball and socket jointsis connected between the cutting mechanism and the tractor or mowersupporting structure.

A more complete understanding of the principal features of the inventionmay be had from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying sheets oi' drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is -a side elevational view oi.' a tractormounted mowerconstructed according to the improved 'driving means for the operablemechi anism of the agricultural implement, and particularly for thecutting mechanism of a mower- Another object is the provision of aunitary frame structure providing a rigid support for an agriculturalimplement on a tractor.

Another obje'ct is to mount the frame structure on the tractor by meansof universal coupling means, preferably in the form of ball and socketjoints.

The invention seeks as another object to provide an improvedground-engaging member for an agricultural implement, and particularlyfor a mower.

Still another object is to provide an improved Vreleasable structure fora mower of the type' inwhich the cutter-bar is adapted to swingrearwardly upon the striking of an obstruction.

principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan elevational view of the same vwith the tractorillustrated in broken lines;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along theline 3-3 of Figure 2; and,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 4 4 ofFigure 2. For the purposes of illustrating` the preferred form oi' thepresent invention, there is shown in the drawings a tractor comprising agenerally longitudinally extending body or .frame 20 including a rearbody or frame part 2i anda forward body or frame part consisting of apower plant or engine 22. The rear body part 2l serves as a transmissionhousing which carries suitable mechanism, not shown, for driving a pairof rear driving wheels 23. As best shown in Figure 2,

' drive housing 25 to the left rear wheel 23.

, mentary. half 51.

a relatively longer axle housing 26 similarly connected by a final drivehousing 21 to the right rear wheel 23. The forward end of the body 20 isprovided with suitable supporting structure generally indicated at 28 bywhich the front end of the body is supported on a transverse front axle29 including steerable front wheels 30. 'Ihe body further includes aforward grill 3|, a hood structure 32, and a fuel tank 33. The rear endof the body includes an operators station including a seat 34immediately ahead of which is carried a steering wheel 85 connected by asteering rod 36 to suitable gearing, not shown, contained in a steeringgear housing 31 located on the forward supporting structure 28. It willbe understood of course that any suitable tractor structure may beutilized, and that the foregoing has been illustrated merely for thepurposes of the present disclosure.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 3, the forward body part carries asupporting means in the form of a U-shaped supporting frame 38 rigidlysecured by bolts 39 to mounting pads 4|) disposed respectively atopposite sides of the body part. The transverse or under portion of theframe 38 carries rigidly thereon a depending bracket 4| which forms theupper complementary half of a supporting means comprising a universalcoupling or mounting means including a socket and completed by a lower,complementary half 42. The lower half of the socket includes an integraldepending portion provided with a ball 43. The socket halves 4| and 42are rigidly secured together and enclose a ball 44 provided on the endof a transversely extending frame member or bar 45. Therelation betweenthe bar 45 and the socket is such that there may be substantial freerelative movement between the two in the conventional manner of ball andsocket joints. The

bar 45 extends laterally of the tractor toward the right side thereofand comprises a part of a mower supporting structure to be presentlydescribed. i

The right hand or outer'end of the bar 45 carries rigidly thereon aconnecting member 46 which is provided with .an attaching flange 41. Thebar is connected by this means to one part of a supporting housing orbracket structure. generally indicated at 48. As best shown in Figure 3,the housing 48 includes at its inner face an inclined attaching orsupporting face or pad 58. 'I'his face fits the outer face of the ange41, and the connecting member 46 and housing 48 are rigidly securedtogether by bolts I passing through the flange and face and into thehousing. As best shown in Figure 1, the housing 48 includes a secondattaching means in the form of a rear supporting or attaching face 52.This face 52 is formed as a circular flange and is adapted to be securedto a circular flange 53- preferably integral with the forward end of alongitudinally extending supporting member or frame bar 54. The flanges52 and 53 of the parts 48 and 54, respectively, are rigidly securedtogether by a plurality of bolts 55.

plurality of threads 13.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 4, the supporting member 54 extendslongitudinally rearwardly alongside of the tractor body part 2| to apoint just below the right-hand axle housing 26. As shown in Figure 4,the rearward end of the member 54 is upset or enlarged to provide onehalf 56 of a socket, which is completed by a. comple- These parts arerigidly secured together and encase a ball member 58 rigidly carried bya supporting bracket 59, thus forming a universal coupling or mountingmeans. The bracket 59 is rigidly carried by the axle housing 26 by meansof a supporting plate 60 secured to the right-hand depending housing 21.As best shown in Figure 4, the member 54 is tubular or hollow. The ballmember 58 is likewise hollow. This arrangement provides a torque tubemeans for bracing the mower structure and for enclosing part of the nuwer ldriving mechanism, referred to below.

As best shown in Figure 2, the rearward end of the rear body part 2|includes a housing structure 6| which extends longitudinally rearwardlyand which carries power means in the form of a power take-on shaft 62.This shaft has keyed thereto for rotation therewith a drive pulley 63. Adrive belt 64 is trained about the pulley 63 and about a smaller pulley65 keyed to a shaft 66. The shaft 66 is journaled in suitable bearings61 in the supporting bracket 59, previously described. The shaft is thusdisposed longitudinally of the vtractor at one side thereof, and itsforward end extends within the hollow ball member 58. At this point theshaft is provided with one half of a flexible drive connection oruniversal joint 68. A drive shaft 69 extends longitudinally within thetubular member 54 and is provided at its rear end with a universal joint18 Which completes the flexible connection with the shaft 66. 'Iheforward end of the shaft 69 extends within the housing 48 and isjournaled on a suitable bearing 1|. As best shown in Figure 4, thehousing 48 provides a combined gear and supporting housing, the purposesof which will presently appear.

The housing 48 has a vertically depending journal portion 12 which isgenerally cylindrical and which is formed about its outer surface with aA second housing or support 14 includes an upper internally threadedportion 15- engaging the depending threaded portion 12 of the housing48. The other housing parts have relative movement about the verticalaxis of the portions 12 and 15. Housing structure of a similar type isdisclosed in detail in United States Letters Patent to Raney et al.,2,166,967. The function of this structural relationship will hereinafterbe more fully described. The Vertical portion 12 onthe housing 48journals a vertical shaft 16 carrying at each end, respectively, bevelgears 11 and 18. The upper gear 11 meshes with and is driven by a bevelgear 19 carried on 'that portion of the drive shaft 69 which is enclosedin the housing to be subsequently referred to.

As best shown in Figures l and 3, the housing part 14 includes anintegral lower flange 83 and an integral upper ange 84. These flangesare suitably connected by a reenforcing web 85 and provide supportingmeans for the mounting of a ground-engaging member or runner, generallyindicated at `88. The member 85 preferably comprises a one-piece barsecured at its upper rearward end bybolts 81 to the upper flange 84 onthe housing part 14. The bar then extends forwardly and is bentrearwardly and downwardly, as at 88, and then horizontally rearwardly toprovide a ground-engaging portion 89 having an up- ,turned rear end. Therunner member 88 is thus paratively free floating movement within widelimits because of the provision of the ball and socket joints mounted atthe center of the tractor body and at the rear axle housing 28 of thetractor. The lower portion 88 of the runner is rigidly secured by bolts80 to they lower flange.

83 of the housing part 14. Thus, the runner and housing parts provide arigid unitary structure adapted to carry the mower cutting mechanism.The cutting mechanism comprises a laterally extending cutter-bar I,which is provided with a cutting knife 82 of the usual type. The innerend of the knife 92 carries a knife-head 88, which may be vand is hereof conventional form, and whichv is connected by a driving member orpitman 84 to a drive pin 95 disposed eccentrically on the ily-wheel 82,previously described as being driven by the shaft 8| Lin the housingpart 14. The inner end of the cutter-bar 8| is rigidly connected to alongitudinally extending mower shoe 88. The shoe is provided at itsforward end with an upstanding ear 01 and at its rearward end with anintegral upstanding bracket portion 88. The ear 81 is apertured on atransverse axis, as at 08, and is adapted to receive a laterallyextending threaded portion |00 of a supporting arm |0|. -A nut |02connects the portion |00 of the arm |0I to the ear 81 von. the shoe 85.The arm |0| extends laterally inwardly of the shoe and is provided witha bifurcated inner end which is connected by a 1ongitudinal pivot pin|03 to an ear |04 provided as an integral part of a supporting member orbracket |05 rigidly carried at a forward portion of the runner 88. Theupstanding portion 88 at the rear of the shoe 88 is provided with avertically extending, arcuate slot I 08 formed about an axis coincidentwith the axis of the aperture 88 Y in the ear 81 on the forward end ofthe shoe. This slot receives a threaded member |01, comprising the outerend of a second laterally extending arm |08. A nut I 08 cooperates withthe threaded portion |01 to mount the arm |08 on the shoe 88 through themedium of the slotted bracket or portion 88. The arm |08 extendslaterally inwardly and generally parallels the first arm IOIf. As bestshown in Figures 2 and 4, the inner end of the arm |08 is formed as onehalf of a Journal IIO. 'I'his journal serves to carry the arm |08 on aforwardly extending bearing portion II| formed integrally on a frontside of the housing part 14. The bearing portion isformed on an axiscoincident with the axis of rotation of the shaft 8|, as is the pivotpin |08 carried by the bracketA I 05 at the forwardend ture and thetractor structure.

tween the housing parts 48 and 14. it will be apparent that the cuttingmechanism, which includes the housing part 14, may have movement withrespect to the mower-supporting structure, which includes the housing40, in a generally horizontal plane about the vertical axis between thecomprising the driving means for the cuttingv mechanism. During thenormal operation of the mower, the cutter-bar extends laterallyoutwardly, as illustrated in the drawings. As a, safety feature, thecutter-bar is mounted for rearward swinging movement about the aforesaidvertical axis when the cutter-bar strikes an obstruction or is otherwiseopposed by an obstruction retarding its forward progress. In order thatthe cutter-bar may be normally locked against this rearward swingingmovementand be held in its operative position, a release means isprovided to connect a portion of the cutting mechanism struc- One typeof such means is illustrated in the drawings. .A forward upper portionof the runner 86 includes rigidly thereon an upstanding bracket memberII2 pro vided at its upper end with a ball I I3. This ball is engaged bya sprocket II4 provided at one end of a rearwardly and diagonallyextending member or bar IIB. A second member` or bar I|6 is connected atits inner end to the ball 43 previously referred to as comprising partof the lower portion 42 of the socket that is provided on the'dependingU-frame 88 on the tractor. As best shown in Figure 2, the bars ormembers |I5 and I I8 are substantially coextensive in length and lieagainst each other along a line diagonally of the tractor andform oneside of a triangle which has as its other sides the runner 86 and thetransversely extending supporting member or bar 45. The member II5carries a U-shaped guide II1 which embraces the member IIB. -This guideis located at the outer end of the release means. The inner end of thebar I5 is provided with a detent or lock portion II 0 which is ncrmallyengaged by a latch Il! carried on the inner end .of the bar IIS. Thislatch is spring pressed by means of a pressure spring |20 and serves toretain the members or bars II5 and II8 in the positionvillustrated inthe drawings. A second guide |2| is carried by the member II 5 and, asshown in FigureZ, embraces both the detent end of the member II5 and thelatch IIO. These guides serve to support the members I I5 and ||6 inside-by-side relation and to prevent relative vertical movementtherebetween. When the cutter-bar strikes an obstruction or 'isotherwise subjected to rearward pressure, it tends to move rearwardlyabout the vertical axis through the housing parts 48 and 14. Thispressure gradually overcomes the pressure on the latch II9, and

the member I'I5 is finally released to be extended relative to themember IIB. Rearward swinging 4lmovement of the cutter-bar with respectto the supporting structure is limited by engagement between the detentportion II8 and the outer The release means may be easily reccnnected bythe backing cf the tractor with respect to the cutter-bar. This relativemovement also includes, of course, forward movement of the cutter-barwith respect to the tractor. Since the members I5 and I I8 areappropriately guided by the guides II1 and I2I, the detentl portion II8is readily reengaged by the latch H9.

4 E- Y n The provision of the ball and socket joints 3|| 4 and IIB-43contributes to the ability of the mower structure as a whole to have theiioating movement previously referred to.

As previously stated, the cutting mechanism is movable or swingablevertically about-a longitudinal axis provided between the pivot pin |83,the shaft 8|, and bearing member or portion I. The tractor is providedwith means for effecting an adjustment of the cutting mechanism aboutthis axis. Since the supporting structure, comprising the members 48 and84 in the housing parts in the housing 41 and 84, is mounted on the balland socket joints at the center and rear parts of the tractor, it willbe apparent that this structure likewise may have vertical swingingmovement with respect to the tractor body. It will be noted that thecutting mechanism and supporting structure have relative andindependent; vertical movement. For this reason the tractor includeslifting .means capable of operating each independently or together.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lifting means herein illustrated is ofthe pressure lifting type and comprises a pressure cylinder |22 carriedon the supporting structure 28 at the forward end of the tractor body20. The cylinder includes an upper rear portion |23 which is carried inthe lower end of a tubular support |24. The

upper end of the support |24 is mounted on the tractor by means of abracket or support |28 carried by the U-shaped frame 38. The cylinder|22 is of the type operated by the exhaust of the tractor engine and isshown as including an and connected to one end of a lifting cable |21.

The cable A extends 'through an opening, not shown, inthe tubularsupport |24 and is trained about a pulley |28 rotatably carried by thesupport. The lifting cable |21 extends downwardly and laterallyoutwardly and is connected at its outer end at |29 to the mower shoe 88,preferably by means of a connection on the laterally extending arm |88.An intermediate portion of the cable |21 passes over a pulley |30rotatably carried by a support |3| rigidly secured to the upper portionof the housing part 48. It will be understood from the foregoingdisclosure that rearward movement of the piston inthe cylinder |22serves to draw the cable |21 into the tubular support |24 so that anupward force is exerted on the cutting mechanism laterally outwardly ofthe pivot axis through the pivot pin |03 and the bearing portion on thehousing The upper end of the support |24 carries rigidly thereon anupstanding member |32. This member carries rotatably thereon a crank |33which has a pinion or gear wheel, not shown,

ing means in the form of a chain |31 to an eye |38 rigidly secured to anupper portion of the housing Dart 48. The detailed structure of thecrank |33 and sector |34 is illustrated in the copending applicationreferred to above. As previously stated, this last structure forms nopart of the present invention. In operation, rotation of the pinion bythe crank |33 moves the sector |34 and arm |38 about the pivot |38.

The connecting member 48 on the transverse member or bar 48 includes anupstanding ear |38 to which is connected the outer ends of a. pair oflaterally inwardly extending counter-balancing springs |48. The innerends of these springs are connected to a ,bracket |4| rigidly carried bythe U-frame 38. The springs perform the usual function ofcounter-balancing the mower structure.

The mower-supporting structure, comprising the housing parts and thesupporting members or bars 45 and 84, is generally L-shaped, the legsoi' the L being formed by the bars 45 and 84. 'I'he housing partscomprise a supporting bracket located at the corner of the L-shapedstructure. The housing part 48 also forms means by which the members orbars are rigidly secured together so that there is no relative movementbetween these bars. The only movement between the supporting structureand the tractor takes place about the axes provided by the two ball andsocket joints, the one comprising the ball 44 on the inner end ofthe arm48 and the socket parts 4| and 42, and the other comprising the ballmember 88 formed on the rear bracket 89 and the socket parts 58 and 81on the tubular supporting member 84. It is to be noted that thesupporting member 84 is rigidly secured to the housing part 48. Thisarrangement enables the member 84 to serve as a combined bracing memberand shaft-enclosing means. In addition,

` the arrangement makes possible the elimination of a universal joint inthe drive shafting in the vicinity of the housing 48, thus providing amore economical and structurally sound frame means for the support ofthe mower or, other agricultural implement. The provision of the member84 as a brace eliminates other bracing structure so that the entiresupporting structure is simpliiied to a large extent.

As previously stated, the forward end of the runner 88 is connected tothe tractor or supporting structure by the releasable means comprisingthe bars or members I0 and f|| 8. As was previously stated, these barsinclude at opposite ends thereof a pair of ball and socket Joints. theone comprising the ball ||3 on the runner 88 and the socket ||4 on themember H8, and the other comprising the ball 43 on the bracket 4-2 andthe socket at the inner end of the member ||8. It will be further notedthat the frame structure has its supporting points at the apices of atriangle, one point at the ball and socket joint on the U-frame 38,another point at the The supporting structure just described consistsengageable with a notched quadrant or sector of means by which the mowermay be supported by the two bars 48 and 84. The releasable meanscomprises in addition a single other supporting connection. It will thusbe seen that the entire structure is rigid and unitary in the respectsdel sired and may be provided in an inexpensive and ment of the cuttingmechanism with respect to the supporting .structure about an axistransversely of the tractor. As previously described, vthe mower shoe 96is carri-ed on the outer end of the laterally extending arm |,0|. Theconnection between these two parts provides a pivot on a transverseaxis. The rear end of the mower shoe is connected, by means oftheslotted bracket 98, to the outer end of the laterally extending arm |08.In order that adjustment of the cutting mechanism may be effected, thenuts |02 and |09 on the arms IDI and |08, respectively, are loosened.With the outer end of the arm I| serving as a pivot, the mower shoe maybe adjusted vertically in either direction, the outer end of the arm |08being free within the arcuate slot |06 in the bracket 98. After theparts have been moved to the desired position, the nuts |02 and |09 aretightened. This adjustment may be effected entirely independently of themowersupporting structure as a whole. The disposition of the cuttingmechanism as adjusted affects neither the driving mechanism nor theability of the supporting structure to have relatively free verticalmovement with respect to the tractor.

In addition to the foregoing features of construction, certain otherdetails are present in greater or lesser degrees of importance, all ofwhich will be apparent to those versed in the art to which the presentinvention pertains. Generally stated, the invention provides an improvedstructure for the mounting of an agricultural implement on a wheeledframe and particularly for the mounting of a mower of the highway typeon a. tractor or like vehicle. It will be understood, of course, thatonly a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, and that numerous modifications and alterations may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mower comprising, in combination, a longitudinal wheeled frame, abracket at one side of the frame between the front and rear wheels,cutting means carried by said bracketV and extending laterally of theframe, a support element extending generally longitudinally of theframe, means rigidly connecting one end of said element to the bracket,means pvotally connecting the other end of the element to the frame, asecond supporting element extending generally transversely of the frame,means rigidly connecting said one end of said element'to the bracket,and means pivotally connectingt'ne other end of said element to theframe, whereby the bracket and the supporting elements have movement asa unit relative to the frame about an axis passing through the aforesaidpivotal connecting means.

l2. A mower comprising, in combination, a longitudinal wheeledframeincluding a drive element, a bracket at one side of the framebetween the front and rear wheels, cutting means carried by said bracketand extending laterally of the frame, a support element extending generally longitudinally of the frame, means rigidly connecting one end ofsaid element to the bracket, means pivotally connecting the other end ofthe element to the frame, a second supporting element extendinggenerally transversely of the frame, means rigidly connecting said oneend oi.' said element to the bracket, means pivotally 'connecting theother end of said element to the frame, whereby the bracket and thesup-` porting elements have movement as a unit relative tothe frameabout an axis passing through the aforesaid pivotal connecting means,drive mechanism carried'by the bracket and connected to the cuttingmeans, anddrive means between the aforesaid drive element andl theaforesaid drive mechanism including a driven member paralleling one ofthe supporting elements.

3. A mower comprising, in combination, a 1ongitudinal lwheeled frame,and including a drive element, a bracket at one side of the framebetween the front and rear wheels, cutting means carried by said bracketand extending laterally of the frame,a support element extendinggenerally longitudinally of the frame, means rigidly connecting one endof said element to the bracket, means pivotally connecting the other endof the elementto the frame, a second supporting element extendinggenerally transversely of the frame, means rigidly connecting said oneend of said element to the bracket, means pivotally connecting the otherend of said element to the frame, whereby the bracket and the supportingelements have.movement as a unit relative to the frame about an axispassing through the aforesaid pivotal connecting means, one of saidsupporting elements being hollow, drive mechanism carried by thevbracket and connected to the cutting means, and drive means between theaforesaid drive element and the aforesaid drive mechanism including adriving shaft enclosed in the hollow supporting element.

4. An agricultural implement comprising, in combination, a longitudinalwheeled frame, an implement-carrying structure carried by the firstframe and comprising a pair of supporting elements each rigidly securedat one end to each other in generally right-angled relation to form anL-shaped frame, one supporting element extending generallylongitudinally of the wheeled frame and the other element extendinggenerally transversely of the Wheeled frame, a pair of meansrespectively pivotally connecting the other ends of the supportingelements to the wheeled frame, and an implement connected` to saidstructure.

5. A tractor-mounted mower comprising, in combination, a vehicle havinga longitudinal frame carried on front and rear wheels, n. mower-carryingstructure carried by the tracto:` frame and comprising a support, a pairof supporting elements each rigidly secured at one end to thesupport ingenerally right-angled re lation to form an L-shaped frame with thesupport at the corner of the' L, one supporting element extendinggenerally longitudinally of the wheeled frame and the other elementextending generally transversely of the wheeled frame, a pair of meansrespectively pivotally connecting the other ends of the supportingelements to the wheeled frame, and mower cutting mechanism connected tothe support.

6. An agricultural implement comprising, in combination, a longitudinalwheeled frame, an implement-carrying structure carried by the r'st frameand comprising a pair of supporting elements each rigidly secured at oneend to each other in generally right-angled relation to form an L-shapedframe, one supporting element extending generallyy longitudinally of thewheeled frame and the other element extending generally transversely ofthe wheeled frame, ajpairof means respectively pivotally connecting theother endsr of the supporting elements to the wheeled frame,

each means including a universal coupling, an

implement, means connectingthe implement to the implement-carryingstructure, and means connecting the implement to one of the universalcoupling means.

7. An agricultural implement comprising, in combination, a longitudinalwheeled frame, an implement carrying structure carried by the rst frameand comprising a pair of supporting elements each rigidly secured at oneend to each other in generally right-angled relation to form an L-shapedframe, one supporting element ex tending generally longitudinally of thewheeled frame and the other element extending generally transverselyofthe wheeled frame, a pair of means respectively pivotally connectingthe other ends of the supporting elements to the wheeled frame, eachmeans including a universal coupling, an implement, means movablyconnecting the implement to the structure for movement with respectthereto, and releasable means connecting the implement to one of theuniversal couplings to normally retain the implement against movementwith respect to the structure.

8. A mower comprising in combination, a lon?- connecting each leg to theframe for movement of the structure about a generally horizontal axis,means pivotally connecting the structure at the corner of the L to oneend portion of the aforesaid member for relative movement about avertical axis, and releasable means connected between one leg of thesupporting structure and the other end of the aforesaid member torestrain the aforesaid relative movement about the vertical axis betweenthe supporting structure and the member.

9. A tractor-mounted mower comprising, in combination, a tractor havinga longitudinal body carried on front and rear wheels and including apower take-off shaft at the rear of the body, a mower frame at one sideof the body,1 between the front and rear wheels and includ-l ing ahousing, a laterally extendingcutter-bar carried by the housing andincluding cutting mechanism, drive gearing carried by and enclosed inthe housing and operatively connected to the cutting mechanism, a framemember disposed transversely of the tractor, means rigidly securing oneend of said member to the housing, means including a. universal couplingpivotally connecting the other end of the member to the tractor bodyintermediate the front and rear wheels, a second frame member comprising-a tube extending generally longitudinally of the tractor bodyrearwardly from the housingl means rigidly securing one end of the tubeto the housing, means including a universal coupling pivotallyconnecting the other end of the tube to the tractor body to brace thehousin'r, and means operatively connecting the tractor power take-oi!shaft and the drive gearing and including a shaft enclosed in the tube.

10. A tractor-mounted mower comprising, in combination, a tractor havinga longitudinal body carried on front wheels and including a reartransversely extending axle housing carried on rear wheels, a mowerstructure including a bracket at one side of the body between the frontand rear wheels, a ball and socket means carried by the under-side ofthe tractor body substana transverse supporting member connected at oneend to said means and rigidly secured at its other end to the bracket, aball and socket means carried by the tractor rear axle housingsubstantially in longitudinalalinement with the bracket, and alongitudinal supporting member connected at one end to said means andrigidly secured at its other end to the bracket.

1l. In a mower, a longitudinally extending ground-engaging runner, agear housing rigidly carried by the runner, a bracket longitudinally:other arm to the cutting mechanism for securing the cutting mechanismto the arm for adjustment relative to the arms about the transversepivot, and drive gearing in the gear housing including a shaft rotatableon the aforesaid pivov. axis and operatively connected to the cuttingmechanism.

12. In a mower, a longitudinally extending support, means on the supportproviding a pair of longitudinally spaced pivots on a commonlongitudinal axis, a pair of generally parallel arms extending laterallyfrom the support, means mounting the arms respectively on the pivots, amower bar extending laterally from the arms, means mounting the bar onone arm for tilting about a transverse axis, and means adjustablyconnecting the bar and the other arm.

13. In a mower, a gear housing having upper and lower flanges, alongitudinally extending support having vertically spaced upper andlower portions respectively rigidly secured to the upper and lowerflanges of the gear housing, drive gearing enclosed in the housing andincluding a drive shaft extending longitudinally from the housingbetween ythe upper and lower portions of the support, means on thehousing forming a pivot on an axis coincident with the shaft axis, meanson the support providing a coaxial pivot longi tudinally spaced from thefirst pivot, and mower cutting mechanism carried on the pivots andincluding a driving connection to the aforesaid drive shaft.

14. In a mower, a longitudinally extending ground-engaging runner, apair of brackets rigidly carried by the runner in longitudinally spacedrelation, a pair of arms extending laterally from the runner, meansrespectively pivotally connecting the arms to the brackets on alongitudinal axis, a mower shoe paralleling the runner, means connectingthe shoe and one arm for relative verticai movement and for movetiallyin transverse allnement with the bracket,

ment together about the aforesaid longitudinal axis, and meansadjustably connecting the shoe and other arm and adapted to adjustablysecure the shoe in various positions with respect to the arms.

15. A mower, comprising, in combination, a longitudinal wheeled frame, asupport extending longitudinally adjacent the frame, means connectingthe support and the frame for relative vertical movement, a cutter-barextending transversely from the support, and means mounting thecutter-bar on the support for tilting ad its inner end adjacent one sideof the tractor body and between the front and rear wheels and a pair ofsupporting arms rigidly secured together and connected to and divergingfrom the inner end of the cutter-bar toward spaced points, one anintermediate portion of the tractor body and the other on the rear axlehousing, and

means including a pair of universal couplings y respectively pivotallyconnecting the supporting arms to the tractor at the aforesaid spacedpoints. .f

17. A tractor-mounted mower'comprising, in combination, a tractor havinga longitudinal body carried on front and rear wheels, a mower frameincluding a support at one side of the body `intermediate the front andrear wheels of the tractor, a cutter-bar extending laterally from thesupport, means mounting the cutter-bar on the support for rearwardswinging movement about a vertical axis with respect to the support,means mounting the support on the tractor body for vertical movementrelative thereto comprising a pair of frame members connected to thesupport and extending toward the tractor body, means including auniversal couplingv connecting one frame member to the tractor body,means including a pair of universal couplings,

cutter-bar to releasably restrain the cutter-bar against the aforesaidrearward swinging movement.

20. A tractor-mounted mower comprising, in combination, a tractor havinga longitudinal body carried on front and rear wheels and including atransversely disposed rear frame part,

" "a mower, and means mounting the mower on the tractor body forvertical movement with respect to the body including a pair oflongitudinally and transversely spaced ball and socket joints,

one located at a point on the body substantially midway between thefront and rear wheels and the other located at 'theaforesaid'transversely disposed rear frame part.

21. A tractor-mounted mower comprising, in combination, a tractor havinga body, a mower,

and means mounting the mower on the tractor body for vertical movementwith respect to the body including a pair of longitudinally andtransversely spaced universal couplings.

22. A tractor-mounted mower, comprising, in combination, a tractorhaving a longitudinal body, a mower structure including a supportdisposed adjacent thetractor, a plurality of attaching portions, a pairof supporting members connected to two of the attaching portions on thesupport, means connecting said members to the tractor, a ground-engagingrunner connected toanother oi the attaching portions of the support, andmower cutting mechanism connected to another 'oi' the attaching portionsof the support.

23. A tractor-mounted mower comprising, in

' combination, a tractor having a longitudinal body one of whichconnects the other frame member to the tractor body, and releasablemeans connected between the other of the pair of couplings and thecutter-bar to hold the cutter-bar releasably against .the aforesaidrearward movement.

18. A tractor-mounted mower comprising, in

19. A mower comprising, in combination, a

longitudinal supporting frame, mower structure.

adjacent the frame comprising a support, a pair of brace membersconnected at one end to the support and extending toward spaced pointson the frame, a ball and socket joint on the frame at one of said pointsand connecting one brace member, a pair of vertically alined ball andsocket joints on the frame at the other point, means connecting one ofsaid latter jointsl and the other brace member, a cutter-bar extendinglaterally from the support, means mounting the cutter-bar on the supportfor rearward swinging movement with respect thereto in a horizontalplane, and

and including power means, mower structure including a support adjacentthe tractor, said support including upper and lower housingE parts4connected together for relative movement about a vertical axis, avertical shaft in the housing parts on said axis, drive gearing inthelower housing part and connected to the shaft, mower cutting mechanismcarried by the lower housing, a brace member, means rigidly connectingthe brace lto the upper housing, means pivotally connecting the brace tothe tractor, a second brace member cornprising a tube rigidly securedat'one end to the upper housing, means pivotally connecting the otherend of the tube to the tractor, and means connecting the tractor powermeans and the vertical shaft in the housings including a shaft enclosedin the tube.

24. A mower comprising, in combination, a longitudinal carrying frame, amower frame at one.

' connecting the other end of the brace and member in longitudinalalinementwith the rst connecting means, a second brace extending fromthe releasable meansconnecting the other of the vertically alined balland socket Joints and the member atan angle to the rst brace, meansconnecting the second brace and the member at a point thereonlongitudinally spaced from and in -longitudinal alinement with theaforesaid connecting means, means connecting the second brace and thecarrying frame, a third brace connected at one end to the membersubstantially at the point of connection between the member-and thefirst brace and at its other end to the carrying frame substantially atthe point of connection between the carrying frame and the second braceRAYMORE D. MACDONALD. SAMUEL E. I-llLBLOM.

